UK & World News

Sienna Miller: My 'Brief Encounter' With Bond

Actress Sienna Miller has said a voicemail in which she said "I love you" to Bond star Daniel Craig was simply a "declaration of friendship".

She was giving evidence at the Old Bailey trial into allegations of phone hacking at the now defunct News Of The World newspaper.

Speaking via video link from New Orleans and flanked by an FBI agent, Miller confirmed her relationship with Jude Law had run into problems in 2005 and that she turned to Daniel Craig for support.

The court has already heard ex-tabloid journalist Dan Evans describe how he hacked the phones of various stars including Craig.

In one message Miller is alleged to have said: "Hi, it is me, I'm at the Groucho with Jude, I can't talk...I love you."

Miller told the court she could well have left the message but added: "The thing that's been slightly misconstrued about this voicemail message is the fact that I said I love you and that this was some incredibly important declaration of love.

"I've always ended my phone calls to Daniel saying 'I love you', as I did with all my friends and family."

Asked if she was romantically involved with the actor who went on to star as James Bond, Miller said: "It was never a relationship, it was a very brief encounter, he was my best friend."

Representing former News Of The World editor Andy Coulson, Timothy Langdale QC asked if the voicemail could be the basis of a newspaper story.

Ms Miller said: "It is not up to me to decide what a story is, if a journalist got hold of that bit of information they would find it titillating.

"To a journalist that would have seemed like a story."

Ms Miller also said the focus on a nine-year-old voicemail message had left her distressed.

"It has been turned into this titillating bit of information and I really regret it has been allowed to be analysed in the way it has," she told the court.

Apologising for the upset, judge Mr Justice Saunders said: "I am very sorry what has gone on in this court and reported in the press has caused you distress. We have tried to limit what has been said in court."

All seven defendants, including ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, deny all the charges against them.